2014 In Life Lessons

Last year I published the year in life lessons on January 17th.  2014 was looking like it would be a stellar year- I'd started working out with a personal trainer, my husband was contemplating grad school and I had a goal of competing in my first tough mudder. We had girls trips to Vegas planned and looking into Peru for the next Christmas travel.  It would be our last year of us before we started having kids.

A few days later I learned that my husband and I were expecting our first child.  This enormous life event consumed 2014. From morning sickness to birth and postpartum recovery, instead of being the "me year" it turned into the year of Vapor Ninja (the sweet nickname given to him in utero).

One trip around the sun later, with my son and husband both fast asleep in the next room and my entrance into the work force looming, it feels fitting to enjoy the quiet and reflect on what 2014 meant.

In 2014 I learned:

- Pregnancy is a trip. See What I Learned: The Pregnancy Edition

- To pay attention to signs.  The universe kept dropping major hints long before I found out I was pregnant. Deep down, I knew my son was ready for us before I could admit to myself that we were ready for him.

- The importance of a village.  Whether it was calm responses to crazy text messages, offers to bring food, or the nice stranger who stopped to help when I dropped my groceries, I was overwhelmed by the kindness of others this year.  These neighbors-turned-friends and strangers-turned-friendlies added a beautiful layer to our complex little neighborhood and further tied us to this unlikely home away from our families.

- To be more vulnerable. I cannot do everything alone and it's okay to ask for help.

- That motherhood is as transformative as the cliches I refused to believe. I'm still learning who I am along with getting to know this tiny person I carried with me for nine months. The process is complex, emotional and ongoing.  It's exciting. It's terrifying. It's liberating.